Unloading device for underdriven centrifugal extractors



Dec. 29, 1925- F. M. WATKINS UNLOADING DEVICE FOR UNDERDRIVEN CENTRIFUGAL EXTRACTORS Filed Jan. 5. 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 29 1925- F. M. WATKINS UNLOADING DEVICE FOR UNDEHDRIVEN CENTRIFUGAL EXTHACTORS Filed Jan. 5. 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 men F. M. WATKINS UNLOADING DEVICE FOR UNDERDRIVEN CENTRIFUGAL EXTRACTORS Filed Jan. 5. 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Dec. 29 1925.

UNITED STATES FRANK M. WATKINS, F CINCINNATI, OHIO.

UNLOADING' DEYICE FOR UNDERDRIVEN CENTRIFUGAL EXTRAC'IORS.

Application filed January 5, 1922. Serial No. 527,181.

To all whom. it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK M. WATKINS,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Cincinnati, in the countyof Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Unloading Devices i'or Underdriven Centrifugal Extractors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in centrifugal extractors and relates to the underdriven type of extractor in which there is provided a load-carrying cage capable of being raised out of the rotatable basket to elevated position for unloading and reloading.

The objects of this invention are to provide a centrifugal extractor in which the load-carrying cage can be raised by means of a fluid actuated plunger together with a multi-way valve for controlling fluid to the plunger, such controlling means being located so as to be readily accessible to the operator; to provide such a cage as can be swung around to position out of vertical alignment with the basket; to provide an electric motive means for rotating the basket together with means included in the motor circuit for preventing raising movement of the basket during operation of the motor; to provide means for centering the cage in the basket and also means for determining the proper angular position of the plunger so as to insure the cage bein in proper vertical alignment with the bas et preparatory to lowering the same thereinto.

Other objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claims when considered together with the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a plan view of my device; F ig. 2 is an elevation with parts broken away;

Fig. 3 is a sectional detail view of the threeway'valve; Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic showing of the electric connections through the motor and the electric control valve; Fig. 5 is a vertical section of the plunger taken on line 5-5, Figs. 7 and 8; Fig. 6 is a vertical transverse section taken on line 6-'6, Fig. 1; Fig. 7 is a horizontal section taken on line 7-7 Fig. 5; and Fig. 8 is a hori- .zontal section taken on line 88, Fig. 5. 'Th'ofina'i'n frame 1 supports the curb or casing 2 and also the bracket 3 upon which is supported the electric motor 4 for drivdividing means.

ing the spindle 5 through the belt connection 6 in a well known manner. The basket 8 is secured upon the spindle 5 bymeans of the nut 9 which has a threaded portion extending upwardly into the centering stem 10 which has engagement with the hollow hub 11. Suitably secured to the hub 11 and extending radially therefrom are the partition members 12 which constitute a load- The auxiliary bottom 13, which is secured to the lower end of the hub 11, formstogether with the partitions 12 the cage which is adapted to be raised out of the basket 8 for unloading and reloading operations The cage is adapted to be raised up through the opening 14 provided in the top of the curb 2, this opening being closed by the cover 15, which is suitably hinged at 16 to the curb. This cover is provided with an opening 17 which is partially closed by the sliding auxiliary cover -18 mounted for sliding movement upon the main cover 15 by means of the pins 19 and the slot 20. Extending through the opening 17 is the arm 21' having a forked inner end 22 engaging the flange 23 provided upon the upper end of the hub 11 for the purpose of raising the cage out.of the basket the cover 18 and arm 21 together constitute the means for locking'the main cover 15 closed. The other end of the arm 17 is fixedly mounted upon the upper reduced portion of the plug 24, the lower portion of which has screw threaded engagement at 25 with the upper end portion of 90 the hollow plunger 26. The lower end of the plunger 26 1s closed by means of the plug 27 which has screw threaded engagement therewith. The gland 28 with suitable packing 29 is secured by means of the bolts 30 for the purpose of providing a fluid tight engagement with the plunger 26 as it reciprocates therethrough. I have rovided upon the plunger 26 a collar 31 which is adapted to engage the stops 32 and 33, it being noted that. the stops 32 are spaced so as to provide the communicating passages 34 between the upper and lower portions of the chamber surrounding the plunger. The chamberv35 is'suit-ably supported upon the main frame ofthe machine and is braced by means of the strap 37 bolted to the wall of the curb.

Fluid. as for instance water, is supplied to the chamber 35 through the pipe 38 which is controlled by means of the valve 39 and 110 n the basket.

also the three-way valve 40. The three-way valve is manipulated by means of the handle 41 and can be set so as to supply fluid through the inlet pipe 42, through the pipe 43, through the valve 39, when open, to the inlet ipe 38 for raising the plunger when it is esired to lift the load-carrying cage out of the'basket for unloading. The valve 40 can also be set so as to cut ofl the supply of fluid through the pipe 42, andtopermit discharge of the fluid from the chamber 35 out through the valve 39, the pipe 43 and the discharge ipe 45. The vports of the valve 40 are in mated by reference numerals 46 and 47, the Valve in the position illustrated imFig. 3 being set for discharge of the fluid out through the pipe 45.

Referring to the diagram shown in Fig. 4, it will be seen that upon closing the control switch 48, circuit will be established from the positive side 49 of the main line through the motor 4, through the contact 50, which is closed upon energizing of the Single pole magnetic contactor 51, and out to the negative side 52 to the main line. It will be noted that upon closing this same circuit the magnet 53 will be energized so as to cause the valve 39 to close. The valve 39 is open when the motor is idle. With this arrangement, the motor 4 may be operated for rotation of the basket which encloses the load-carrying cage and the plunger will remain in lowered position, since valve 39 is closed during operation of the motor. Upon completion of the extracting operation the switch 48 will be opened so as to stop the motor 4 and at the same time the magnet 53 will thereby be de-energized so as to permit the valve 39 to be opened by a s ring or in any other suitable manner an thus permit 'suplp'ly of fluiid to the chamber 35. When t e motor and basket have been stopped, the cover 18 will be opened so as to permit raising of the main cover 15 preparatory to raisingthe arm 21, The handle 41 will now be manipulated so as to open the valve 40 for supply of fluid to the chamber 35 for the purpose of raising the plunger so that the cage can be swung around to unloading positlon as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1. Upon unloading the cage and re-loading the same, it can be swung back to vertical alignment with respect to the basket and, upon setting the valve 40 for discharge of the fluid from the chamber 35, the plunger will lower by gravity so as to bring the cage to position with- With this arrangement it will be seen that since the closing of the switch 48 will cause the valve 39 to be closed, it is impossible for fluid to. be supplied to the chamber 35 while the motor 4 is in operation; with the result that the dan eiof raising the cage during rotation of t e basket is precluded. The series field of the motor 4 is indicated by reference numeral 54 and the shunt field by reference numeral 55.

As a means of determining when the plunger 26 has been swung to proper position for vertical alignment of the cage so as to lower into the basket, I have provided the slot plunger 26 with the slot 56 in which enga es the pin 57 mounted in the wall of the c amber 35, the pin 57 being provided with the spring 36 for forcing the same into the slot. The screw plug 58 is a means of varying the tension of the spring 36. I have provided also an air valve 58" to permit escape of air from the chamber 35 upon supply of fluid thereto, this "valve being closed as soon as such air has been expelled.

Then when it is desired to discharge the fluid from the chamber 35, the valve 58 can be opened for atmospheric pressure.

Having described my invention, I claim: 1. An extractor, comprisin a curb, a

load-carrying member rotatab y and vertically movablein said curb, means for rotating said member, fluid actuated means for ed within said curb, said cage being adapted also for raising and lowering movement out of and into said curb,fluid actuated means for raising said cage, means for supplying fluid to said fluid actuated means, means for rotating said cagefand means for simultaneously controllin the operation of said rotating means an said fluid supplying means.

3. In an extractor, the combination of a curb, a load-carryingcage rotatably mounted within said curb, said cage being adapted also for raisin of and into said curb, fluid actuated means for raising said cage, means for supplying fluid to said fluid actuated means, vmotor means for rotating said cage, and electric means for controlling said motor means and Said fluid supplying means, whereby the cage can not be raised during operation of' the motor.

4. In an extractor, the combination of a and lowering movement out curb, a load-carrying cage rotatably mounted curb, said cage; being adapted al I load-carrying cage rotatably mounted with insaid curb, said cage being adapted also for raising and lowering movement out of and into said curb, an arm adapted to extend through the aperture of the main cover for engagement with said cage for raising and lowering the same, and means adapted to extend between said arm and main cover so as to lock the main cover in closed position.

6. In an extractor, the combination of a curb, an apertured main covertherefor, a load-carrying cage rotatably mounted within said curb, said cage being adapted also for raising and lowering movement out of and into said curb, an arm adapted to extend through the aperture of the main covcover adapted to extend between said arm and main cover so as to close part of said aperture and at the same time serve to lock .the main cover in closed position.

7. In an extractor, the combination of a curb, an apertured main cover therefor, a

load-carrying cage rotatably mounted within said curb, said cage being adapted also for raising and lowering movement out of and into said curb, an arm adapted to extend through the aperture of the main cover for engagement with said cage for raising and lowering the same, and means slidably mounted upon said main coverand adapted to extend between said arm and main cover so as to lock the main cover in closed pos'ition; w

In testimony whereof I hereby aflix my 

